CKI.EHRATION Ol' IHE 200111 ANNIN ILKSAKN 

HI IHK 

Discovery hy Robert Cavalier de La Salle 

Ol' I'Hl'. 

\ " '" MOUTH OF THli MLSSLSSI FPI. 

RfjOMS OK THK ClllC'-Uid HlsTOKIlAI. SoCIKTV, 

Chuago, li.i.lMUS, Januarv 9, 1SS2. 

The Ninth day of April, 1882, will be the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the discovery of 
the mouth of the Mississippi River by ROBERT Cavei.IKR dk LASALr.K. 

The members of the Chicago Historical Society think that this historical event should be 
appropriately commemorated on that day. 

In view of the fact that La SaM.E was one of the first white men who ever set foot upon 
the soil where Chicago now stands and that his settlement on Peoria Lake, in March, 1680, where 
he built Fort Creve-Coeur, was the first civilized occupation of what now constitutes the State of 
Illinois; and as it was from this point that he improvised the expedition to discover the mouth of 
the Mississioui. the Historical Society of this Citj- has \entured to suggest that the Historical Asso- 



ciations located in the \-alle>'s of the Mississippi aiul Ohio Ri\ers should unite u. a ceicuifiuOn -t?t- 
that disco\er}- in the citv of New Orleans, April 9th, 1882. 

At a meeting of this Society on the 3d instant, Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, its President, called 
attention to the following letter addressed to him by Hon. E. B. W'ashburne, a member of this Socict)-; 

Chicago, December 27, 1881. 
Hon. Isaac N. Arnoi.ij, President of the Chicago Historical Society — 

Dear Sn<.: — I have just recei\'ed a letter from tlie celebrated French historian, Pierre Margr)', 
dated Paris, the 8th instant. He gives me an interesting account of the famih' of Pierre La Cl^de, the 
founiler (if .St. Louis, which must be valuable to his descendants in that cit>-. 

It is not my purpose here to speak of La Clede, particularh' as M. Margry sa\s he has sent the 
same information to one of his descendants now living in St. Louis. My object is to call the attention of 
the Society, through you, to a suggestion which M. Margr\- makes in his letter. After speaking of the 
last volume he has published, which treats of the discover)- b\' sea of the mouth of the Mississippi b\- 
d'Iberville, he says: 

In considering this matter, I can not forbear to sa_\- that there is an excellent occasion for an act 
of justice in honor of Cavelier de LaSalle. Ne.xt year, on the 9th of April, 1882, will be the 200th anni- 
versary of the first discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi by the great Roueiinais (LaSalle). The 
Congress of the United States in having me make the collection of papers which recall the fertile enter- 
prises of this illustrious man has erected a monument to him which will make his name li\e eternall)' in 
history. Why should not the Chicago Historical Society unite with the other Societies of the \'alle}-s of 
the Ohio and Mississippi to make a commemorati\'e ceremony on the date of April 9th, 1882.' Did not 
LaSalle do more than Father Marquette and Louis Joliet, and certainly more than Father Hennepin, 
whose discovery of the Falls of St. Anthony has been celebrated.' I take the liberty, sir, to submit to 
you this idea, as well as a decision by which the Academy of Rouen, the natal town ot LaSalle, will 



associate itself with the Societj- of Chicago, and, if possible, with other societies established on the soil of 
one of her children. To my niind, it is important to have the people keep up the remembrance of a com- 
tiion glor\', for there is a principal of peace and affection in such an association with the past worthy of 
all respect. 

I think this suggestion of Al. Margry is worth)- of the serious consideration of ovn- Societ}-, and 
perhaps you might deem it proper to call its attention to the subject at its next monthly meeting, with a 
\'icw of taking such initiator)- steps as shall seem proper. ^'ours \er)- trul)-. 

K. B. Wasiihurnk. 



After a discussion of the subject, Mr. K. G. Mason then offered the following preamble and 
resolutions which were adopted: 

Whkreas, The 9th day of A[)ril, A.D. 1883, will be the 200th anni\ersar)' of the discovery of 
the mouth of the Mississippi River by Robert Cavelier de LaSalle, and it is deemed fitting b)- the Chicago 
Historical Society that the event should be appropriately commemorated; 

Resolved, That this Society recommends to the other historical associations, located in tiie \alle)-s 
of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, that a celebration under their joint auspices of this great disco\-er)- be 
held in the city of New- OrU^ans on the 9th day of April next. 

Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed by this Societ)-, of whicli its President shall be 
Chairman, w-hose duty it shall be to correspond with the said associations, and to report at some future 
nieeting whether such joint action is feasible, and what further steps should be taken. 

Resolved, That this Society will address a memorial, in which said associations will be requested 
to join, to the Congress of the United States, asking that a joint resolution be adopted providing for the 
appointment of a committee from both Houses to attend such celebration, ,-uk1 lor such other measures in 
regard thereto as ma)- seem propi-r. 



The undersigned, a committe appointed by^yirtue_of the second resolution, ta-G©rfes|iOiVu u illi the 
historical associations named, beg lea\'e to submit this matter to your consideration and to express a 
hope that we may hear from )-i)u on the subject at an early da)-. 

In conformity with the third resolutii;)n, the Societ)- will join the other associations in address- 
ing a memorial to Congress, a copy of which we enclose to be signed and forw-arded to \\'ashin"-ton, 

.if \'ou should deem advisable. We ha\-e the honor to be, etc. 

Isaac N. Arnold, 
Kdwaru G. Masox, 

E. B. WASHBURXIi, 

Thomas Drummo.m), )> Committee. 
Wm. K. Ackkrmax, 
Mark Skinxkr, 
Edward S. I sham. 






CHlCACio, Januar\- 5, 1882. 
Hon. Isaac X. Arnold, 

President of the Cliieago Hislor.cal Society, 

M\' Dkar Sir: — I have obser\-cd with ijleasurc that \-rHir Society is initiating a ])roject to cele- 
brate the two-iumdredth anniversary of the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi River, by LaSalie. 

Xothing, in my judgment, can be more approiiriate than the commemoration of that great his- 
toric event by the historical associations of the States in the Valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, 
and by all the people therein who have lived to sec the de\'elopmcnt which has followed the work of the 
great discoverer. 

l'"ull\' appreciating what )-ou have undertaken, and desiring to cooperate with you, I respectfully 
authorize \'ou to draw on me for One Thousand {$1000) Dollars for the purpose of procuring the painting 
of a portrait of LaSalle, providing it can be done from existing material, to exhibit on the occasion of 
the celebration, and after that to adorn the walls of your Society. 

\'ours ver}' truly, 

Marshall Field. 



(Jlic \(,ri, January 6, 1882. 

^"^w* — ■ — °>~ 



MaRSU.VI.L FlLLD, ES(J,, 

My Detrr Sir: — 1 recei\ed last evening _\-our note, containing \-our very generous proposition in 
regard to a portrait of La.Salle. Vou authorize me to draw on }-ou "for $1000, for the purpose of procur- 
ing the portrait of LaSalle, providing it can be done from existing material, to exhibit on the occasion of 
the celebration" of the two-hundredth anniversary of the discox'ery of the month of the Mississippi, "and 
after that to adorn the walls of the Chicago Historical Society." In behalf of this Society, and of our 
citizens generally, and, indeed, for the whole \-alle)- of the Mississippi, so far as I ma_\- be permitti.-d to 
speak for it, I thank }-ou for this liberal and graceful offer. It seems to me peculiarl)- fit and pi'oper that 
one among the leading merchants of the great vallc)' should cause this portrait to be placed on the walls 
of our Societ)-, where for years to come the people may study the face of one of the grandest characters 
in early American history. 

I should be glad to receixe an_\- suggestions you desire to make, relative to the artist to whom this 
commission shall be given. 

I learn from our friend, Mr. Washburne, that authentic pictures of LaSalle are in existence in 
France, and he has already kindl)- sent for jjliotographs of them. W'ith great respect, I am. 

Very truly \'ours, 

Isaac N. Arnold. 




014 5427l^""3" 



ROBERT CAVKLIER DK LA SALLE. 
His Discovery of the Mouth ok the Mississipm — Proposed Co.mmemokatio.n ok the 2ooth 
Anniversary ok its Discover\- by La Sai.le. 

We print a letter addressed by Hon. E. B. Washburne to Hon. Lsaac N. Arnold, the President of 
the Chicago Historical Society, in relation to a suggestion of Pierre Margry. the French historian that the 
historical societies in the Valleys of the Ohio and Missi.ssippi Rivers should celebrate the 200th anniversarv 
of the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi on the 9th of April, 18S2, by Robert Cavalier de LaSalle 
We think the suggestion a most excellent one and that it will meet with exceptional favor, not only with 
the historical societies referred to, but among all lovers of history interested in our early discoveries 
Among all the discoverers in New France, LaSalle stands out conspicuously as one of the greatest boldest 
and most enterprising, and whose history has all the interest of a romance. To our judgment," nothin<^ 
could be more appropriate than the celebration referred to. It is due to one of the most remarkable men" 
not only of his time, but of any age, for LaSalle, with his high education and rare intelligence, had the 
characteristics of mdomitable will, unsurpassed courage, and unheard-of tenacit)-, which have impressed his 
name indelibly on the page of history. When we stand in the presence of what has followed La Salle's 
discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi 200 years ago, it is impossible to withhold an expression of our 
wonder, amazement, and admiration. 

JTh^ States at.thejDres«?f.^aK.J?Prf«;irjK ?:^^.M«K!§J^pJ'4^(V£'Prtilenut/ilth^of whiil, La SKUe 
discovered, Apri'i 9, 1682, and its tributaries, are Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkan.sas, Tennessee, Kentuckj*, 
Ohio, W. Virginia, Penn., Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. We pre- 
sume that all these States, or the local historical societies which have been established therein, will asso- 
ciate themselves with anj' movement looking to an appropriate celebration of an event having such an 
influence in the history of the world as the discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi. There would seem 
to be a certain propriety in the Chicago Historical Society taking the initiative in this matter. La Salle is 
the founder of Illinois, and he was one of the first white men who ever set foot on the soil now occupied 
by our magnificent city. On the 4th of January, 1680, he reached Peoria Lake with his expedition, where 
he built "P'ort Creve-Cceur," which was the first civilized occupation of the country which now constitutes 
the State of Illinois. Terrible disasters, misfortunes, and perils attended La Salle before he built Fort 
Creve-Coeur. The very name — Broken-Heart — is suggestive of the sorrows and sufferings which must ha\e 
appalled the heart of the brave explorer. Obliged to abandon and dismantle his fort, it was in March, 
1680, that LaSalle improvised his expedition to find the mouth of the Mississippi. It was, therefore, on 
the soil of Illinois that the great undertaking was fitted out. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the Chicago 
Historical Society will take early steps looking to a celebration of the discovery of the mouth of the 
Mississippi, by La Salle, on the 9th of April, 1882, at some place to be agreed on by the various historical 
societies interested in the matter. — Chicago Tribiiiic, Ja)i. ^t/i, 18S2. 




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